Network Keyboard-mouse-video switches.

[Simon Haddon]

Wouldn't you just want a KVM switch.  If you get one of the powered 
digital KVM switches then it even lets your servers boot up thinking that 
there is a keyboard and mouse attached. You can have 1 
monitor/keyboard/mouse to control lots of servers.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 24/04/02, 1:27:18 PM, Michael James <michael at james.st> wrote regarding 
Network Keyboard-mouse-video switches.:


> Has anyone seen something like this?

> To make any yum-cha PC into a remotely administrable server
>  all that is needed is a network based video card.
> To the PCI or AGP slot it looks like a low-end video card.
> >From the back it looks like an independent ethernet port.
> It also has PS/2 keyboard and mouse leads.
> Internally it is jumpered to the reset and power headers.

> A remote SSH based console configures the board with it's own IP number
>  and access keys/ logon details.

> Once set up you can talk to the card even if the main OS is down.
> You can power-cycle, re-configure the BIOS,
>  watch and make changes in the boot process.

> Yes it's a significant, specialized piece of hardware,
>  but in a server room it would replace
>  all the forrest-of-wires keyboard/mouse/video switches
>  that people are throwing large amounts of money at.
> One standard cat5 lead, an old 10BaseT hub (out-of-band) and a console 
PC.

> And of course the console PC can be as remote as you like.

> There has to be a big enough market to be worth developing them.

> michaelj
> --
> A right not exercised is a privilege
> a privilege not exercised is illegal.

> Michael James                 michael at james.st
> 8 Brennan St                  Phone: +61 2 6247 2556
> Hackett, ACT 2602             Mobile: +61 4 1747 4065
> AUSTRALIA                     Fax: +61 2 6278 0011